# List of female winners of open chess tournaments

Female chess players in the modern era generally compete in a mix of open and women's tournaments. With women representing a low fraction of all chess players throughout history, it has been uncommon for women to win open tournaments where women and men are mixed together, particularly at the higher levels. Championship tournaments, both at adult and youth levels, are even rarer for women to win in part because women and men are typically divided into different sections at these events, heavily reducing the number of female players competing against male players.
María Teresa Mora was among the first notable instances of a woman winning an open tournament, becoming Cuban national champion in 1922. Mora was the only student of José Raúl Capablanca, the World Champion at the time. Vera Menchik's 1926 victory at the Hastings Major Reserve, a tier below the highest master level, is regarded as the first high-level tournament victory by a woman. Nona Gaprindashvili is credited with the first elite tournament victory by a woman, winning the Lone Pine International more than 50 years later in 1977. It was this victory that led her to become the first woman to earn the Grandmaster (GM) title a year later. The next Women's World Champion, Maia Chiburdanidze, was the first woman to win an elite round-robin tournament, winning two in the mid-1980s. Her second such victory, in Banja Luka, was mostly against other GMs.
Judit Polgár, widely acknowledged as the greatest female chess player in history, has won the most high-level open tournaments among women by far. Some of her strongest victories in classical came in the four-player double round-robin Crown division in Hoogeveen, where she won four times and regularly faced competition averaging near or above 2700-level. The strongest ten-player elite round-robin tournaments (known as super-tournaments) won by women were the 1994 Madrid Torneo Magistral and 2000 Japfa Classic in Bali by Judit Polgár, and the 2018 Biel Grandmaster Tournament by Hou Yifan. All of these tournaments featured opposition above 2600-level on average. The biggest and strongest Swiss tournament victory by a woman was the 2016 London Rapid Superplay in which Valentina Gunina claimed the title in a field of 475 players, facing an opposition rated over 2500 on average. In classical Swiss events, Gaprindashvili's 1977 success at Lone Pine and Sofia Polgar's 1989 "Sack of Rome", in which she scored 8½/9 against mostly GMs at age 14, are the strongest and most notable victories.
The only two world championships won by women were both by Judit Polgár, who was the 1988 U-12 World Youth Champion and the 1990 U-14 World Youth Champion. Humpy Koneru was the U-12 Asian Youth Champion in 1999. At adult levels, the highest-level national championships won by women were the 1991 Hungarian national championship by Judit Polgár, the 2000 Lithuanian national championship by Viktorija Čmilytė, and the 2006 Austrian national championship by Eva Moser. Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant, the oldest woman to earn the GM title, has won the Scottish national championship three times.

## Key

Header key :
| Header | Explanation |
| Player | Winner's name |
| Rtg | Winner's FIDE rating for the event. Cases with no applicable FIDE rating are italicized and classical ratings are substituted. |
| Tournament | Tournament name |
| G | Game time control (C = classical, R = rapid, B = blitz, O = online) |
| Date | Month that the tournament finished |
| Prize | Prize received by the winner |
| Fmt | Tournament format (RR = round-robin, D-RR = double RR, Sch = Scheveningen team, KO = knock-out) |
| Ch | Is the event a championship at national, continental, or world level? (Y = yes at adult level, U = yes at youth level, N = no) |
| Pts | Winner's score |
| Rds | Rounds in tournament (played by the winner) |
| Opp | Average rating of the opponents |
| # | Number of players in the tournament |
| = | Was first place shared? (Y = shared, N = either sole first, or a tie for first was broken with tiebreaks or play-off) |
| Ref | Main reference |

## Criteria for inclusion

Only notable instances are listed.
* For RR tournaments, opponents' average rating must be above 2300. IM norm tournaments are not listed. GM norm tournaments are only listed if a GM norm was made.
* For Swiss tournaments, opponents' average rating must be above 2200.
* Any youth, senior, or overall championship (national, continental, or world) with rated players won by a WGM, IM, or GM (current or future) may be listed.
* Instances that come close to the above criteria may also be listed.
* Instances that have historical significance or receive significant media coverage for high-level-chess-related reasons may also be listed.

## Notable winners

| Player | Rtg | Tournament | G | Date | Prize | Fmt | Ch | Pts | Rds | Opp | # | = |
| María Teresa Mora (CUB) | N/A | Cuban Championship | C | 1922 | ? | ? | Y | ? | ? | N/A | ? | ? |
| Vera Menchik (TCH) | N/A | Hastings Major Reserve | C | Dec 1926 | ? | RR | N | 6½ | 9 | N/A | 10 | Y |
| Vera Menchik (TCH) | N/A | British CF Major Open | C | Aug 1931 | ? | RR | N | 9 | 11 | N/A | 12 | N |
| Nona Gaprindashvili (USSR) | 2430 | Lone Pine International | C | Mar 1977 | $5750 | Swiss | N | 6½ | 9 | 2450 | 48 | Y |
| Maia Chiburdanidze (USSR) | 2385 | New Delhi Bhilwara IGM | C | Feb 1984 | ? | RR | N | 7½ | 11 | 2409 | 12 | N |
| Maia Chiburdanidze (USSR) | 2400 | Banja Luka International | C | Apr 1985 | ? | RR | N | 8½ | 13 | 2459 | 14 | N |
| Judit Polgár (HUN) | 2365 | World Youth CC U-12 | C | Jul 1988 | N/A | Swiss | U | 9 | 11 | N/A | 37 | N |
| Judit Polgár (HUN) | 2365 | London Duncan Lawrie Mixed | C | Oct 1988 | ? | RR | N | 7 | 9 | 2339 | 10 | N |
| Judit Polgár (HUN) | 2365 | Hastings Challengers | C | Jan 1989 | ? | Swiss | N | 8 | 10 | 2359 | 102 | N |
| Sofia Polgar (HUN) | 2295 | Magistrale di Roma | C | Feb 1989 | ? | Swiss | N | 8½ | 9 | 2436 | ? | N |
| Susan Polgar (HUN) | 2510 | León Torneo Magistral | C | Jun 1989 | ? | RR | N | 8 | 11 | 2429 | 12 | Y |
| Judit Polgár (HUN) | 2540 | World Youth CC U-14 | C | Jul 1990 | N/A | Swiss | U | 9 | 11 | N/A | 42 | N |
| Judit Polgár (HUN) | 2550 | Hungarian Championship | C | Dec 1991 | ? | RR | Y | 6 | 9 | 2507 | 10 | N |
| Judit Polgár (HUN) | 2575 | Hastings Congress | C | Dec 1992 | ? | D-RR | N | 9 | 14 | 2564 | 8 | Y |
| Maia Chiburdanidze (GEO) | 2510 | Women–Veterans Vienna | C | Jun 1993 | ? | Sch | N | 9 | 12 | 2488 | 12 | N |
| Judit Polgár (HUN) | 2630 | Madrid Torneo Magistral | C | May 1994 | ? | RR | N | 7 | 9 | 2625 | 10 | N |
| Judit Polgár (HUN) | 2635 | Women–Veterans Prague | C | Jul 1995 | ? | Sch | N | 6½ | 10 | 2586 | 10 | Y |
| Pia Cramling (SWE) | 2510 | Women–Veterans Prague | C | Jul 1995 | ? | Sch | N | 6½ | 10 | 2586 | 10 | Y |
| Judit Polgár (HUN) | 2630 | Isle of Lewis Festival | R | Jul 1995 | ? | D-RR | N | 5 | 6 | 2578 | 4 | Y |
| Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant (GEO) | 2455 | Women–Veterans London | C | Aug 1996 | ? | Sch | N | 6½ | 10 | 2536 | 10 | Y |
| Maia Chiburdanidze (GEO) | 2525 | Lippstadt Grandmaster | C | Jul 1997 | ? | RR | N | 8½ | 11 | 2456 | 12 | N |
| Nino Khurtsidze (GEO) | 2390 | Georgian Championship | C | 1998 | ? | Swiss | Y | ? | ? | ? | ? | N |
| Judit Polgár (HUN) | 2665 | US Open Championship | C | Aug 1998 | $3750 | Swiss | N | 8 | 9 | 2330 | 155 | Y |
| Judit Polgár (HUN) | 2665 | Hoogeveen Essent Crown | C | Oct 1998 | ? | D-RR | N | 5 | 6 | 2563 | 4 | N |
| Judit Polgár (HUN) | 2671 | Hoogeveen Essent Crown | C | Oct 1999 | ? | D-RR | N | 3½ | 6 | 2606 | 4 | Y |
| Hoang Thanh Trang (VIE) | 2453 | First Saturday | C | Dec 1999 | ? | RR | N | 9 | 13 | 2418 | 14 | N |
| Humpy Koneru (IND) | 2229 | Asian Youth CC U-12 | C | Dec 1999 | N/A | Swiss | U | ? | ? | N/A | ? | N |
| Marie Sebag (FRA) | 2193 | French Youth CC U-14 | C | 2000 | N/A | ? | U | ? | ? | N/A | ? | N |
| Viktorija Čmilytė (LTU) | 2329 | Lithuanian Championship | C | Mar 2000 | ? | Swiss | Y | 6½ | 9 | 2421 | 54 | N |
| Judit Polgár (HUN) | 2658 | Bali Japfa Classic | C | Apr 2000 | $20000 | RR | N | 6½ | 9 | 2624 | 10 | N |
| Judit Polgár (HUN) | 2658 | Malmo Sigeman & Co | C | May 2000 | ? | D-RR | N | 4 | 6 | 2609 | 4 | Y |
| Viktorija Čmilytė (LTU) | 2433 | Wijk aan Zee Corus Reserve | C | Jan 2001 | ? | Swiss | N | 7 | 9 | 2396 | 42 | N |
| Humpy Koneru (IND) | 2311 | Hotel Lipa International | C | Jun 2001 | ? | RR | N | 8½ | 11 | 2413 | 12 | Y |
| Judit Polgár (HUN) | 2686 | Hoogeveen Essent Crown | C | Oct 2001 | ? | D-RR | N | 3½ | 6 | 2639 | 4 | Y |
| Humpy Koneru (IND) | 2484 | Third Saturday | C | Oct 2001 | ? | RR | N | 8½ | 11 | 2418 | 12 | Y |
| Humpy Koneru (IND) | 2486 | Elekes Dezso Memorial | C | May 2002 | ? | RR | N | 8 | 11 | 2433 | 12 | Y |
| Antoaneta Stefanova (BUL) | 2497 | Surabaya Wismilak International | C | Jul 2002 | $2000 | RR | N | 9½ | 11 | 2441 | 12 | N |
| Olga Alexandrova (UKR) | 2430 | Alushta Title Tournament | C | Oct 2002 | ? | D-RR | N | 9½ | 12 | 2407 | 7 | Y |
| Judit Polgár (HUN) | 2685 | Benidorm Hotel Bali Stars | R | Nov 2002 | ? | RR | N | 8 | 11 | 2554 | 12 | N |
| Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant (GEO) | 2413 | Scottish Championship | C | Apr 2003 | £375 | Swiss | Y | 7 | 9 | 2292 | 18 | Y |
| Susan Polgar (USA) | 2565 | US Open Blitz Championship | B | Aug 2003 | ? | Swiss | N | 11 | 12 | ? | ? | N |
| Kateryna Lagno (UKR) | 2439 | Ukraine Title Tournament | C | Aug 2003 | ? | D-RR | N | 9½ | 14 | 2490 | 8 | N |
| Judit Polgár (HUN) | 2722 | Hoogeveen Essent Crown | C | Oct 2003 | ? | D-RR | N | 4 | 6 | 2679 | 4 | N |
| Svetlana Petrenko (MDA) | 2364 | Moldova Championship | C | Feb 2005 | ? | RR | Y | 10 | 13 | 2307 | 14 | N |
| Viktorija Čmilytė (LTU) | 2459 | Lithuanian Championship | C | May 2005 | ? | RR | Y | 8 | 11 | 2387 | 12 | N |
| Qiyu Zhou (FIN) | N/A | Finnish Youth CC U-10 | C | Jun 2005 | N/A | Swiss | U | 6 | 7 | N/A | 16 | N |
| Nona Gaprindashvili (GEO) | 2318 | Haarlem BDO Master | C | Aug 2005 | ? | RR | N | 6½ | 9 | 2344 | 10 | N |
| Iweta Rajlich (POL) | 2421 | First Saturday | C | Feb 2006 | ? | RR | N | 8½ | 12 | 2423 | 13 | N |
| Eva Moser (AUT) | 2395 | Austrian Championship | C | Sep 2006 | ? | RR | Y | 6 | 9 | 2402 | 10 | N |
| Judit Polgár (HUN) | 2710 | Hoogeveen Essent Crown | C | Oct 2006 | ? | D-RR | N | 4½ | 6 | 2737 | 4 | Y |
| Subbaraman Vijayalakshmi (IND) | 2425 | Leonardo di Bona Memorial | C | Apr 2007 | ? | Swiss | N | 6½ | 9 | 2459 | 23 | N |
| Humpy Koneru (IND) | 2575 | HSG Open | C | Jun 2007 | ? | Swiss | N | 7½ | 9 | 2440 | 74 | N |
| Humpy Koneru (IND) | 2572 | Kaupthing Open | C | Jul 2007 | €3000 | Swiss | N | 7 | 9 | 2455 | 88 | N |
| Filiz Osmanodja (GER) | 1984 | German Youth CC U-12 | C | May 2008 | N/A | Swiss | U | ? | ? | N/A | ? | N |
| Eva Moser (AUT) | 2397 | Jena Schwarzer Bär Cup | C | Feb 2009 | ? | Swiss | N | 7 | 7 | 2222 | 54 | N |
| Ana Matnadze (GEO) | 2414 | Open Las Palmas | C | Apr 2009 | ? | Swiss | N | 8½ | 9 | 2150 | 57 | N |
| Humpy Koneru (IND) | 2603 | Czech Coal Match | C | Nov 2009 | ? | Sch | N | 5½ | 8 | 2564 | 8 | N |
| Hou Yifan (CHN) | 2570 | Kuala Lumpur Open | C | Apr 2010 | ? | Swiss | N | 7½ | 9 | 2457 | 111 | N |
| Judit Polgár (HUN) | 2686 | Ajedrez UNAM Quadrangular | R | Nov 2010 | ? | KO | N | 6 | 8 | 2775 | 4 | N |
| Humpy Koneru (IND) | 2600 | Czech Coal Match | C | Nov 2010 | ? | Sch | N | 6 | 8 | 2464 | 8 | N |
| Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant (SCO) | 2464 | Scottish Championship | C | Jul 2011 | £1200 | Swiss | Y | 7 | 9 | 2147 | 37 | N |
| Iweta Rajlich (POL) | 2422 | First Saturday | C | Apr 2012 | ? | RR | N | 7 | 9 | 2396 | 10 | N |
| Tania Sachdev (IND) | 2400 | Czech Coal Match | C | Dec 2012 | ? | Sch | N | 6 | 8 | 2431 | 8 | N |
| Alexandra Kosteniuk (RUS) | 2489 | Swiss Championship | C | Jul 2013 | ? | Swiss | Y | 6½ | 9 | 2277 | 70 | N |
| Hou Yifan (CHN) | 2673 | Corsican Circuit | R | Oct 2014 | ? | KO | N | 10 | 14 | 2546 | 16 | N |
| Davaademberel Nomin-Erdene (MGL) | 2303 | Novi Sad Miljo Vujovic Memorial | C | Jul 2015 | ? | RR | N | 7 | 9 | 2405 | 10 | N |
| Davaademberel Nomin-Erdene (MGL) | 2430 | Milan Edoardo Crespi Memorial | C | Dec 2015 | ? | Swiss | N | 7½ | 9 | 2302 | 29 | N |
| Ekaterina Atalik (TUR) | 2378 | Prague Open | C | Jan 2016 | $600 | Swiss | N | 8 | 9 | 2310 | 171 | N |
| Davaademberel Nomin-Erdene (MGL) | 2468 | Novi Sad Hotel Sajam | C | Feb 2016 | ? | RR | N | 7 | 9 | 2440 | 10 | N |
| Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant (SCO) | 2368 | Scottish Championship | C | Jul 2016 | ? | Swiss | Y | 7 | 9 | 2240 | 34 | N |
| Valentina Gunina (RUS) | 2491 | London Rapid Superplay | R | Dec 2016 | £5000 | Swiss | N | 9 | 10 | 2504 | 475 | N |
| Lei Tingjie (CHN) | 2531 | Sevilla Open | C | Jan 2018 | ? | Swiss | N | 8 | 9 | 2279 | 310 | N |
| Hou Yifan (CHN) | 2666 | Biel GMT | C | Jul 2018 | ? | RR | N | 6½ | 9 | 2644 | 10 | N |
| Annie Wang (USA) | 2321 | Pan-American Junior Champ. | C | Aug 2019 | N/A | Swiss | U | 7 | 9 | 2248 | 51 | N |
| Maria Eizaguerri Floris (ESP) | 2304 | Spanish Youth CC U-18 | C | Jul 2021 | N/A | Swiss | U | 7½ | 9 | 2110 | 189 | N |
| Eline Roebers (NED) | 2173 | Brugse Meesters | C | Aug 2021 | ? | Swiss | N | 7½ | 9 | 2178 | 138 | N |
| Eline Roebers (NED) | 2365 | Untergrombach Open | C | Jan 2022 | €1000 | Swiss | N | 6½ | 7 | 2172 | 135 | N |
| Vaishali Rameshbabu (IND) | 2411 | Heraklion Fischer Memorial | C | May 2022 | ? | RR | N | 7 | 9 | 2376 | 10 | N |
| Eline Roebers (NED) | 2369 | Dutch Youth CC U-18 | C | May 2022 | N/A | Swiss | U | 6 | 7 | 2078 | 15 | N |
| Davaademberel Nomin-Erdene (MGL) | 2398 | Agria Festival | C | Jul 2022 | ? | Swiss | N | 5 | 7 | 2277 | 57 | N |
| Sophie Milliet (FRA) | 2363 | Perpignan Classique U2400 | C | Oct 2022 | ? | Swiss | N | 7 | 7 | 2155 | 58 | N |
| Alexandra Kosteniuk (SUI) | 2523 | Espot B-Cup | O | Jun 2023 | ? | KO | N | N/A | N/A | 2525 | 8 | N |
| Dinara Wagner (GER) | 2447 | Sportland NRW Cup | C | Jun 2023 | ? | RR | N | 7 | 9 | 2418 | 10 | N |
| Polina Shuvalova (FIDE) | 2506 | IM SCC | O | Oct 2023 | $5450 | RR/KO | N | N/A | N/A | 2386 | 16 | N |
| Carissa Yip (USA) | 2399 | North American Junior Champ. | C | Dec 2023 | N/A | Swiss | U | 8 | 9 | 2012 | 104 | N |
| Divya Deshmukh (IND) | 2440 | Sharjah Challengers | C | May 2024 | $2000 | Swiss | N | 7 | 9 | 2364 | 98 | N |
| Antoaneta Stefanova (BUL) | 2417 | Rhodes Summer Cup | C | Jun 2024 | €2500 | Swiss | N | 7 | 9 | 2241 | 45 | N |
| Meruert Kamalidenova (KAZ) | 2352 | Open Cup of Karaganda | C | Sep 2024 | ? | RR | N | 5½ | 9 | 2534 | 10 | N |